NFU Scotland Autumn Conference: Cabinet Secretary's speech

Good morning and thank you for inviting me along today. 

It’s always a pleasure to be with the NFUS – an organisation proud to serve Scotland’s farmers and crofters.

This year’s autumn conference is particularly meaningful for me, as it will be my last as Cabinet Secretary. 

I want to say how much I’ve valued these opportunities to engage directly with you, and most importantly to listen and better understand the issues that matter most to our agricultural community.   

The theme of today – science and innovation – couldn’t be more timely.  It goes to the very heart of how we ensure a resilient, profitable and sustainable farming future in Scotland.   

Scotland’s agricultural research is world-leading. But its true value is in how it supports you, the people who work the land – day in, day out. 

That is why integrating  science and innovation is a practical necessity.  When we get it right we can:

• boost productivity sustainably,
• tackle the climate emergency,
• protect animal and plant health,
• safeguard food security,
• drive rural economic growth,
• and meet the evolving expectations of both market and consumer.

The pressures facing our sector are real and immediate.   

From volatile inputs costs and market shocks, to disease, drought, and the aftermath  of Storm Amy – Scottish farmers and crofters are facing multiple challenges.  

Yet through it, your resilience stands out.  You are the backbone of our rural economy and communities.

This government understands the multiple challenges you all face day in day out – we get it – farming is tough – that is why we are committed to supporting you as an industry.

Part of that, crucially, is support for your health and wellbeing – we are determined to do all we can to assist programmes which provide support.

In addition to the funding we provide to RSABI,  I am proud to announce today support for the vital work which Farmstrong does in promoting wellbeing and social connection for our farmers and crofters – we are awarding £25,000 to Farmstrong Scotland to support their Social Wellbeing Project – putting mental health at the heart of our rural communities. 

This funding supports a dedicated engagement lead and a powerful programme of events across Scotland – giving farmers and crofters the space to connect, share and support one another. 

This is about building happier, healthier lives – and, in turn, stronger, more resilient farm businesses.

Healthy and happy farmers and crofters are well placed to deliver progress and innovation.

Innovation and science are not luxuries in this sector – they are necessities. 

They underpin our ability to: breed resilient crops and livestock, improve animal health and welfare, enhance soil health and biodiversity, combat climate change implications, work more efficiently with inputs and embrace digital tools for precision farming. 

Scotland is uniquely placed to lead.  We have world-class research institutes, trial farms, and a strong- culture of collaboration between science and farmers. 

Last year, we invested £17 million worth of funding to both the Crop Innovation Centre (CIC) at the James Hutton Institute’s Invergowrie campus and the International Barley Hub which was created in partnership with the University of Dundee.   

These are two cutting-edge facilities driving climate-resilient crops, better yields, and stronger disease resistance.

These advances directly benefit our food producers and key sectors in agriculture.

At JHI’s Glensaugh Farm, near Laurencekirk, I’ve seen firsthand how climate positive farming can work.  

For example, supported by a £6.2 million Scottish Government Just Transition Fund grant, the HydroGlen project is pioneering green hydrogen production to power farm machinery.

By integrating renewable energy with hydrogen fuel, this initiative aims to reduce fossil fuel use and create a sustainable, low-carbon future for farming in Scotland.

Through the Strategic Research Programme, the Scottish Government has invested nearly £50 million a year in our research portfolio.  This is to provide science and evidence to support policy makers and delivery partners. 

Scotland’s integrated agri-science communities—James Hutton, Moredun, SRUC and others - is one of the most integrated in Europe. 

Their work with farmers and crofters means faster progress – from disease-resistant barley, to vaccines for livestock, or regenerative soil techniques that can actually be implemented on working farms. 

And there are so many examples of this happening in our rural communities.   

Through the Scottish Government’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) we are providing £2 million to the Monitor Farm Programme.

The nine participating farms have been a driving force for innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing that are helping to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for Scottish agriculture. 

For example, a number of the farms are actively trialling virtual fencing. 

By using GPS collars and mobile apps to control livestock movement, farmers can move invisible boundaries with the tap of a phone.

This is an example of breakthrough technology for modern farming—cutting costs, saving time, giving farmers more control than ever over how and where their animals graze, supporting farmers’ ability to protect nature, improve soil health and cut emission, without sacrificing productivity. 

By experimenting, deploying and sharing this agri-tech and other innovate practices through the Monitor Farm’s peer-to-peer method, they are acting as innovation hubs by farmers, for farmers.

This demonstrates the strategic importance of monitor farms – we are committed to continuing to support and fund our monitor farms.  And we are committed to working with QMS to develop a new Monitor Programme launching in 2026.  

It’s also important to highlight the Farm Advisory Service (FAS). FAS is not just about advice – it’s about bringing innovation into every farm in Scotland. 

They have a range of tools like FAS TV, podcast, peer-to-peer groups, farm visits, new technologies and sustainable practices are shared far and wide, making sure no farm is left behind. 

And as ever, I’d emphasise that the FAS is your service, we welcome views on where the service is doing well, or where support could be improved to empower businesses to innovate and thrive further. 

By working together we can ensure we have advice systems in place that work for you and your business.

During my time in office, I have seen a fantastic range of projects being awarded funding through KTIF. 

These have included supporting focus farms improving lamb survival rates, working alongside pig producers to tackle porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in Morayshire, reducing antimicrobial use in Scottish Dairy Farms and trialling livestock performance indicators on suckler beef herds, to note just a few. 

Over the last 10 years, the Scottish Government has supported over 60 KTIF projects and committed over £8.5 million to these various projects. 

Today, I’m pleased to share with you that the Scottish Government is awarding a total of over £554k worth of funding to six further KTIF projects.

The projects are:

1. Farm Cluster Connections (Propagate)
   A knowledge-sharing programme creating farmer clusters across eight regions to foster peer-to-peer learning, with farm visits, webinars, and a national gathering focused on regenerative farming.
2. Pig Insights (Scottish Pigs Ltd)
   An innovative project applying AI-driven analysis to veterinary and abattoir data to improve pig herd health and reduce production costs, delivering actionable insights to farmers and vets.
3. Biosecurity & Calf Hygiene Extension Package (Owen Farm Services)
   Improving dairy calf health and farm resilience by promoting biosecurity and calf hygiene best practices, supported by farm visits and tailored feedback to encourage adoption of proven methods.

I’d like to extend my thanks to all those who applied.  What’s most encouraging about this fund is seeing people from across the sector step forward – not just to take part, but to lead. 

The ideas are coming from the ground up and they reflect a real appetite across Scottish agriculture to drive improvement, embrace innovation and shape the future. 

But supporting the dissemination, advice components and trialling of new approaches and technology is only part of the picture. 

Innovation in agriculture is about having the tools in your hands, helping you make better decisions every day. 

That’s why I’m pleased to announce that, through £249K worth of funding provided to SAOS in this financial year, the Scottish Government is supporting the continued delivery and development of the MyHerdStats platform, available via ScotEID. 

And thanks to continued investment by this Government, new functionality has been added every year since launch — and we’re not stopping there.  

This ongoing support reflects our clear commitment to backing livestock farmers with science-led, digital tools that drive production efficiency and boost profitability. 

I’m especially proud to share that, as of September 2025, MyHerdStats has now reached nearly half of all cattle keepers in Scotland, representing over 60% of the national herd.  

That is a remarkable achievement in adoption and a credit to the platform’s practical value. 

I also want to thank the NFUS for its role in helping raise awareness among its members.  Your support ensures that innovation doesn’t just exist — it’s used, shared and strengthened.  

One of the key ways we support farmers to innovate is through targeted financial assistance.

In July, I announced the launch of the £14 million Future Farm Investment Scheme (FFIS), which provides upfront payments of up to £20,000 at a 100% grant rate. This gives farmers the flexibility to choose the most appropriate capital investments for their businesses.

FFIS is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together. The response has been outstanding, with over 7,500 applications received to date.

Through FFIS, we are investing directly in technologies and equipment——that will drive a more productive and sustainable future for Scottish farming.

I am therefore pleased to announce that the FFIS budget will be increased by over 50% with an additional £7.4 million in funding, increasing the budget from £14 million to £21.4 million.

This significant boost demonstrates our  commitment to advancing innovation and resilience across Scotland’s farming and food sectors, ensuring they remain competitive and sustainable for years to come.

I can also confirm that for those who applied to the scheme you will be informed of the outcome of your application from the 31^st of October.

FFIS is a blueprint for how we will continue to deliver practical support to your businesses—whether through investments in agri-tech solutions or initiatives that address climate and nature challenges.

Similarly, I was pleased to announce earlier this month the opening of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) in early 2026 and that funding for AECS will be maintained until at least 2030 – ensuring stability and enabling businesses to plan ahead and support on farm investment in nature and climate friendly farming.

AECS is a cornerstone of our vision for a sustainable, resilient Scottish agriculture — rewarding the work farmers and crofters do every day to care for nature, protect our water and soils, and cut emissions. 

From precision grazing to small scale tree planting.  Following awards from the 2024 round, the Scottish Government has committed £339 million to over 3,400 businesses. 

AECS is not just environmental support — it’s innovation in action. It’s funding farmers and crofters to protect our natural assets and boost long-term farm resilience. 

In February this year, we announced the continuation of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in Scotland from 2026 with £6 million allocated in support over the last two years.  We continue to work with our stakeholders following the consultation this year to ensure the long-term success of the scheme.   

By enabling group of growers to collaborate and improve competitiveness, we are providing that much-needed stability and security.  Investment from the scheme is helping Scottish growers to remain committed to growing food and supporting our domestic production. 

Specifically this support is helping producers adopt smarter growing systems, investing in low-carbon technologies and using data to drive better yields and reduce waste.  I am proud to continue this investment in innovation, resilience and the future of Scotland’s horticulture sector. 

This is in stark contrast to the UK government who are removing this support, the Scottish Government recognises the sector has been hard hit in a range of areas from labour problems exacerbated by Brexit to increased costs for inputs such as energy and water scarcity.  

And adding further to this crucial support are the commitments this government has made in respect to small producers.

We have recently announced £500,000 worth of capital funding through the Small Producers Pilot Scheme and up to £200, 000 worth of resource funding to be made available through the Small Producers Practical Training Fund. 

We remain firmly committed to supporting small producers and empowering them to play a key role in making our Vision for Agriculture a reality.  And through these programmes we will further enable innovation, upskilling, resilience, and growth across the sector. 

Supporting the next generation of farmers and crofters is a key priority for this government and indeed is one of our PfG commitments.  

We want young farmers and new entrants to feel that their ideas, ambitions, and energy are not just welcomed — but backed with real opportunity, funding and advice. 

We continue to see remarkable feedback from the FAS mentoring programme for new entrants.

But this year, in particular, we announced £1.8 million worth of funding for the Land-Based Pre-apprenticeship Programme and the Next Generation Practical Training Fund – both of which were co-designed by the sector, with the NFUS being a main contributor - providing meaningful capacity building in the rural workforce.   

On the land based  pre-apprenticeship programme I also have to commend the work of Grahame Bruce and Ringlink who have been so pivotal in that work which is having a real positive impact on our young people, and getting people into the sector who may not previously have considered it as a career.

This training is enabling the next generation to innovate and embrace new practices and technologies, amongst the more traditional aspects of training you’d expect. 

Supporting the next generation isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential for the future of Scottish agriculture. That’s why we’re focused on providing the right support at the right time, so new and young entrants can build the careers and businesses they aspire to. 

For those who have not been lucky enough to inherit a farm or  a farm tenancy, access to land remains a key barrier for many aspiring farmers – we understand this – as a government we are providing leadership working at pace to create opportunities for new entrants on public land – building upon the work of FONE.

I want to pay particular tribute to Henry Graham and Ian Davidson who continue to be instrumental in driving this forward on behalf of the government.

Since 2016, the group have provided around 8,500 hectares of land and 149 units to 96 new entrants.

I hope to be able to announce in the coming months further opportunities for those who aspire to farm.

I want to make one thing clear – we must deliver to the next generation good, secure opportunities which provide them with the ability to build their capital and put down roots in rural communities.

Where we lead we expect others to follow.

As part of this building momentum we will be hosting a next generation summit later this year to ensure our plans  align with the ambitions of our young people.

And we know the importance of retaining and inspiring the next generation.

That’s why we’re embedding STEM learning opportunities in schools, supporting apprenticeships in rural innovation sectors, and backing local colleges and training providers to deliver where it matters most — in our communities. 

The future of farming in Scotland must be grounded in science, driven by innovation and backed by forward-looking policy. 

That’s why the Scottish Parliament passed the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act — giving us the modern tools to support a resilient, sustainable rural economy. 

As you all know we have a programme of reforms to our existing support schemes to deliver change in the short term.

From the introduction of modest enhanced greening requirements to the calving interval for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme – changes designed to deliver for the environment and productivity.

Crucially, the Act also commits us to a Rural Support Plan, updated every five years.

As part of this work, from now on, there will be a step change in the pace of future policy development.

We will be working at pace to develop our blue prints for future support – enabling us to provide more clarity about changes to vital future support.

But let me be clear – I am proud of our record of support for this sector – we only have to look to policy decisions taken in other parts of these islands to see the damage which can be caused – particularly to family farms and those in upland livestock areas – when support policy is changed without building consensus and understanding unintended consequences.

Through this Act, and the plan we build together, we will ensure Scottish agriculture leads the way — where science, innovation and tradition work side by side for a stronger, more sustainable and prosperous future. 

Innovation is not just about productivity it equally applies to actions for nature and climate and how we integrate those into your farms systems.

As government and industry we need to work together to continue to make progress in this area –  over the past year I’ve seen first-hand the amazing work that many in the sector are taking forward.

Agriculture is part of the solution to the twin crises of climate and biodiversity – and we need more farmers to do their bit whether that is planting some small scale woodlands on farm or restoring habitats such as hedges.

Cumulatively small actions can have a big impact. This is a time for the industry to lead and in so doing helping to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for the sector.

In closing, I want to thank you all once again for the vital role you continue to play in shaping the future of Scottish agriculture. 

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my time in office to have worked with this incredible sector and to see, first-hand, how Scottish farmers, crofters and land managers are not just adapting to change — but leading it. 

I want to finish with a crystal clear message – and its one worth repeating – we are a government committed to supporting the sector now and in the future.

In an increasingly uncertain world we have delivered stability and certainty and will continue to do so as we develop our future support systems.

I want you to know I have your back, the First Minister has your back – that is why we continue to deliver direct support, alongside a range of support schemes – all in stark contrast to support policies in other parts of the UK.

I believe our record demonstrates that where we have the powers to protect and support Scottish agriculture we have made good progress, however as we all know, there remain a number of areas where our policies are undermined by UKG policy from sub optimal trade deals, lack of investment in border biosecurity, changes to inheritance tax to budget settlements which do not reflect the critical contribution of Scottish agriculture in a range of areas.

All of which seek to highlight the increasing necessity to move towards self-government – putting Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.

Thank you again for having me — and thank you, above all, for everything you continue to do for Scotland’s land, our people and our future. I look forward to our question and answer session.